Coin-trap.



G. R. P'ERRY.

' COIN TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25 1913.

1,158,552. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

WITNESSES [N VEN TOR COLUMBIA PLANOnRAPl-x co.. WASHINGTON. D. c,

GEORGE R. PERRY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COIN-TRAP.

i Application inea February 25, 1913.

To all cli/tom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, Grnomra` R. PERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at VaShingtOn, in the District of Columbia, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Coin-Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description' of the invention, such t the purpose of inculcating the habit of saving dimes and nickels and encouraging persons whose means are limited as well as the general public to effect. a. saving of a part of their income in this way.

The objects of the invention are to provide a simple, eflicient and inexpensive device of the character referred to, of light weight and small size, and which shall consist of few partsv separablyv secured together i in compact form and adapted to receive and retain coins placed therein in such manner that after the receptaclel is filled, or after the insertion of a coin, it cannot be emptied or a coin removed without: breaking a seal and taking the device apart; the device being at the same time convertible into a non-locking receptaclev so that, without the interposition of anyy otherl part, the

user may convert the device' from a lockingto a non-locking condition, or vice versa, by

simply reversing or changing the position of certain parts, thus enabling the user to assemble the parts of the deviceA so that when a coin is inserted therein it will be automatically locked, preventing its removal until the seal is broken and the device taken apart, or to permit a coin .or'coins to be easily removed if desired.

The invention will first be hereinaftermore particularly described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part cf this specification, and thenpointed out in the claims at thel end of the descrip-` tion.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a side elevation o-f a device embodying my in- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 2, 1915.

Serial N o. 750,556.

v'ention, showing in full lines a coin in position to be inserted land indicating in dotted lines the automatic locking mechanism with means for pushing a coin past the locking point; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of thearrow, and showing in dotted and full lines a coin before and after its insertion in the entrance opening; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing the device with the parts in the position they occupy after it isfilled with coins to its full capacity,the coin pushing device being shown obstructing the path of a coin that has traveled entirely around the coin raceway vback tothe entrance opening; Fig. l is a vertical sectional elevation taken on the line l-il of Fig. 9, looking in theV direction of the arrow and showing the intermediate. partition or diaphragm in full lines; Fig- 5 is a perspective view of the diaphragm detached; Fig.. 6 is a perspective view of one member of the pawl-and-ratchet device for automatically locking the coins as they areI inserted in the' retainer so as tol prevent backward movement; F ig. 7 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the pawl-and-ratchet devices in position for locking the coin within the retainer; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the pawl-and-ratchet devices in reversed position to prevent locking the coin within the retainer; Fig. 9 is a vertical central transverse section of the receptacle shown in Fiff. l; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail sectional view, on a slightly enlarged scale, illustrating the mode of securing the diaphragm and the pawl-and-ratchet dwicesv together so as toV adapt them to be handled as a unit; Fig. ll is a detail perspective view of abrolrenaway portion of the diaphragm, illustrating a modification of the spring catches formed thereon; Figli?, is an edge view of the receptacle shown in Fig. l, looking at the entrance opening therein, and indicating in dotted lines the coin pushing devices on opposite sides of the diaphragm; Fig. 13 is a 'fragmentary detail sectional view of the central portion of the receptacle, illustrating a modiiication of the construction shown in Fig; 9; and Fig. 14 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a broken-away portion of one of the side plates ofthe casing or receptacle, showing a slot orV mortise in its peripheral flange to receive a tenon on the diaphragm.

. or annular raceways around which the coins may travel until the first coin inserted returns to the entrance opening a, provided for inserting the coins in succession. Said side plates may be formed or provided with .-1 peripheral flanges fitting one within the other, as shown more clearly in Fig. 9 of the drawings; said flanges having portions thereof cut away to form the entrance opening a` and also having one or more registering slots al either diametrically opposite said opening or at other points to receive tenons Z) and l on said diaphragm. The tenon Z) is of sufficient length to span the opening a` so as to provide a coin entrance opening at each side of the diaphragm of a width about equal to the width of the coin to be'inserted therein, while the tenon b1 f engages the registering slots al, thus centering and holding the diaphragm in proper position between the two side plates so as to equally divide the space therebetween and prevent the diaphragm from tilting. If desired additional registering slots and tenons may be provided at other points around the periphery of the casing. The diaphragm B is centrally apertured and on each side thereof is placeda ratchet-wheel C, which is preferably .star-shaped, or of the Geneva movement type, having a series of radial projections c and intermediate concavities c1', which conform to the curvature of the coin to be placed therein. On one side of the ratchet-wheel or rotating element C, coincident with the projections c between which the coin is held and carried around the raceway, recesses or ribs c2 are provided for engagement with spring catches or pawls b2 on the diaphragm B, to prevent the ratchet-wheel from turning in a backward direction while permitting it to rotate freely in a forward direction. n the form shown the spring catches b2 are integral with the diaphragm and may be constructed by slitting and bending parts thereof so as to form a tongue on each side adapted to successively engage the ribs or notches in the ratchet-wheel to prevent backward f movement while capable of yielding on the reverse rmovement to permit the ratchetwheel to rotate freely in the opposite direction. These spring catches may be so positioned'that one will engage a recess on one ratchet-wheel while another on the opposite sideof the diaphragm will engage another recess on the other ratchet-wheel substan- -taken apart.

tially in the same plane, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, or nearly diametrically opposite each other, as shown in Fig. 11. The ratchet-wheels are adapted to revolve about a central axis while the diaphragm B is held stationary, and for convenience in assembling the diaphragm and ratchet-wheels are preferably secured together in such manner as to adapt them to be handled as a unit. To this end, the ratchet-wheels are centrally apertured coincident with the aperture in the diaphragm to receive an eyelet D, the ends of which may be swaged or bent against beveled edges of the metal surrounding the apertures in the ratchetwheels, as shown in Fig. 10, thereby securing the several parts together with provision for rotation of the ratchet-wheels about said eyelet as an axis while the diaphragm is Xed and immovable. The opening through the eyelet D is preferably large enough to receive inturned centrally disposed bosses or protuberanees a2 on the side plates A, A1, which are apertured to receive the shank of a rivet E, preferably made of lead or other suitable material and coinpressed to form a head on the inserted end of the shank for securing the two side plates together and providing a seal which must be broken to permit the receptacle to be A washer or washers c may be placed on the rivet E at one or both sides of the side plates, as desired. The

side plates and ratchet-wheels may be conv structed of relatively thin sheets or plates of aluminum, thus combining lightness with strength, while the diaphragm or partition B is made of phosphor bronze or other suitable material which inay be slitted and bent to provide resilient catches for engagement with the notches or ribs on the ratchetwheels.

It may be desirable in some cases to secure the assembled parts together without using an eyelet or other means for securing the diaphragm and ratchet-wheels together so as to adapt them to be handled as a unit, and to this end, instead of utilizing the eyelet, the hub-like protuberances on the side plates may be fitted within the bore or opening through the center of the diaphragm and ratchet-wheels and secured together by means of a rivet El of lead or other suitable material to provide a destructible seal, as already described with reference to Fig. 9; such modification being illustrated in Fig. 13 of the drawings. Each of the side plates A and A1 are preferably provided with a series of openings therein as shown of less size than the coin which the receptacle is designed to receive, in order that the coins may be seen through such openings, enabling the user at a glance to determine the number of coins the device may contain, and by inspection through said openings to observe the character of the coins inserted therein. But such openings are not essential and may be dispensed with if desired. For the purpose of moving the coins along the raceway as theyVv are inserted through the entrance opening a, and thereby actuating the ratchet device to lock and retain the coin within the receptacle after it has passed beyond a given point, a pushing device F is slidably secured in each raceway and positioned normally at the rear end of the entrance slot or opening a to adapt it to be slid back and forth across the path of the coin as it is inserted, so that when the coin has reached the full line position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, in which it is shown resting on the concave seat provided therefor on one of the ratchet-wheels, it may be forced into the raceway by a forward movement of the pushing' device, thereby causing the ratchet-wheel upon which the coin is resting to turn until the notch thereon neXt succeeding the notch engaged by the spring catch at the time the coin wasinserted is engaged by the catch, whereupon the pushing device lmay be slid back past the entrance opening to permit the insertion of another coin, and this operation is repeated until the number of coins inserted has reached the desired limit, at which time the rst coin introduced'will have traveled entirely around the raceway back to` the entrance opening, but cannot escape because the tail piece f of the pushing device, which has advanced to push forward the last inserted coin, will lie in the path of the coin which has traveled around the raceway to the position shown in Fig'. 3. ln this position no further movement of either the coins or the pushing device is permitted, and to remove the coins it is necessary to break the seal or destructible rivet and take the device apart, after which the several parts may be restored to their normal positions and secured together in properly assembled relation by inserting another' rivet and sealing the device, whereupon it may be again filled and returned to the bank or other depository to be again opened as before.

ln order that the pushing device may not advance or recede beyond the required distance for the performance of its function, a stud or set screw f1 thereon may protrude through an arc-shaped slot G in the side plate and the length of this slotwill determine the distance the pushing device may be moved either forwarder back, for the purpose of actuating the ratchet-wheel and advancing the coins along the raccway as they are inserted one by one throughthe entrance opening.

While the device shown is especially designed for .saving dimes, it may be constructed to hold coins of any other denomination, without any variation in construction other than a diiference in size, according tol the size of the coin with which it is intended to be used. It may also be made with more or less than two compartments or raceways, so as to receive and retain a greater or less number of coins than ten, which number the illustrated device is designed to hold, and if desired, the raceway on one side may be adapted to receive and retain coins of a different denomination from those on the opposite side, for eX- ample, a dime on one side and a nickle on the other, the only difference in construction necessary in such cases being the provision of an entrance opening of greater or less length and width and a raceway of corresponding width and depth, according to the size and width of the coin to be inserted, and a ratchet-wheel of such size that the concave portions c1 thereof will properly seat the coins as they are inserted.

In practical use the several parts of the device are ordinarily assembled in the position shown in Figs. l and 9, with the spring catches on the diaphragm facing the recesses or ribs which they engage on the ratchetwheels, as indicated in Fig. 7, but by simply reversing the position of the ratchet-wheels or turning them around so that the sides thereof with ,the recesses therein will face the inner walls of the side plates instead of facing the diaphragm, as shown in Fig. 8, the device may be assembled or converted into a. non-locking receptacle, in which the coins may be inserted andy removed at will by merely applying pressure of the linger through one of the sight openings in the side of the casing for the vpurpose of moving the coin in a backward direction and out through the entrance opening.

'lt will be observed that the receiver or coin trap constructed as described utilizes space to the best possible advantage, the complete structure containing ten dimes being only a. little larger than a standard silver dollar, and being very light it may be carried around in the pocket of the user without inconvenience.

While the side plates are preferably constructed of aluminum and the diaphragm of phosphor bronze, any suitable material may be used, such as sheet metal or steel or celluloid, and various other changes may be ,made in the details of construction and ar-` rangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, hence l do not desire to be limited to the specific construction shown by way of illustration. For instance, the spring catches and stopsI or recesses on the partition and ratchet wheels may be transposed by `providing spring catches on the ratchet wheels engaging stops or recesses on the partition instead of spring catches on the partition engaging lill stops or recesses on the ratchet wheels, and instead of a destructible seal or rivet for detachably securing the assembled parts tof gether any suitable equivalent device may be 'employed for this purpose.

VTo prevent a coin from being moved around the raceway by pressure of the finger through the sight openings after 1t has advanced far enough, without iii-st inserting I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- Y ters Patent of the United States is: y

l. A coin container adapted to hold only a predetermined number of coins of a given denomination, comprising a` narrow inclosing casing having a single narrow opening in its margin through which the coins are inserted edgewise, andV a narrow coin raceway leading from said opening and back thereto; said race-sway being of a width slightly in excess of the thickness of the coin and the outer wall thereof having spaced openings therein through which the coins are exposed to view, and means for pushing the coin along said race-way step by step until thecoin first inserted returns to said opening; said .means acting upon previously inserted coins through the coin last inserted.

2. A coin trapcomprising a narrow casing having a filling opening and a coin raceway leading therefrom and back thereto of a width about equal to the thickness of the coin to be inserted flatwise through said open-ing, means in said raceway adapted to prevent backward movement of the coin while permitting forward movement thereof, and means adapted to be slid back and forth for pushing a coin past the opening and receding to permit the insertion of another coin; said pushing device being adapted to prevent the egress of a coin through said opening when it has traveled the length of the raceway.

3. A coin trap comprising a' narrow casing having a filling opening and a plurality of coin raceways leading therefrom andv back thereto of a width about equal to the thickness of the coin to be inserted flatwise through said opening, means in said raceways adapted to prevent backward movement of the coin while permitting forward movement thereof, and means in each raceway adapted to be slid back and forth for pushing'a coin past the opening and receding to permit the insertion of another coin; said pushing device being adapted to prevent the egress of a coin through said opening when it has traveled the length of the raceway.

4L. A coin trap comprising a narrow circular casing having a filling opening in its periphery and a coin raceway leading from said opening around the casing and back thereto, said raceway being of a width about equal to the thickness of the coin, means within the raceway to prevent backward movement of the coin when moved to a given point past said opening, and means for pushing a coin past the opening adapted to recede and clear the path for the next succeeding coin after each forward movement; said means adapted to obstruct the path of an outgoing coin and prevent its egress through said opening.

5. A coin trap comprising a narrow casing of circular form having a filling opening in its periphery and coin raceways extending around its axis from said opening and back thereto, and a pushing device in each raceway adapted to be slid back and forth for pushing coins successively past said opening and receding after each forward movement to permit the insertion of another coin; Said device being adapted to obstruct the path of an outgoing coin and prevent its egress through said opening.

6. A coin trap comprising a receptacle of circular form having an opening in itsperiphery and a partition separating it into two compartments each of a width about equal to the thickness of a coin adapted to be inserted flatwise through said opening, and means in each compartment for pushing the coins successively past said opening, said means being adapted to be slid back and forth so as to clear the Way for the insertion of a coin after each forward movement and to obstruct the path of an outgoing coin and prevent its egress through said opening.

7. A coin trap comprising a casing of circular form composed of side plates having overlapping marginal flanges and an intermediate plate or partition between which and the outer wall of the casing at each side is provided a coin raceway of a width about equal to the thickness of a coin leading around the casing, a coin entrance opening in the periphery of the casing at the starting point of the raceway, and means adapted to be slid back and forth beside said opening to push forwardV a coin and return to permit the insertion of another coin, said pushingmeans being adapted to prevent egress of a coin through said opening after passing around the raceway, and means to prevent backward movement of a coin when moved past said opening.

8. A coin trap comprising a casing of circular form having a coin entrance opening in its periphery and composed of side plates having overlapping marginal flanges and an intermediate plate or partition separating the casing so as to provide a raceway at each side of the partition leading around the casing from said opening and back thereto, means in said raceways toprevent backward movement of a coin, and pushing devices slidably fitted in said raceways adapted to push a coin past the opening and then move back suiiiciently to permit the insertion of another coin; said pushing devices having tail pieces which obstruct the raceway and prevent the `egress of a coin through said opening after it has traveled the length of the raceway. s

9. A coin trap comprising a casing of circular form having a yperipheralvcoin entrance opening and composed of side plates having overlapping marginal flanges and an intermediate plate or partition separating the casing so as to provide a raceway at each side of the partition leading around the casing from said opening and b'ack thereto, pushing devices slidably fitted in said raceway adapted for pushing a coin along the raceway past said opening and to, be then moved back sufficiently to permit the insertion of another coin, said pushing `devices carryingl tail pieces which obstruct the raceway to prevent egress of a coin through said opening afterit has passed around the raceway, means in said raceways to prevent backward movement of a coin, and means whereby said side plates and partition are secured together and sealed so that the coin may not be removed until such seal is broken.

l0. A coin trap composed of separable parts which are secured together by a destructible sealing device so that,y the coin may not be remo-ved until such seal is broken, said trap being circular in form and having a peripheral filling openingand a coin raceway therein of a width about equal to the thickness of tlie'coin to be inserted flatwise through said opening, means in said raceway to prevent backward movement of the coin while permitting forward movement thereof, and a pushing device adapted to be slid back and forth so as to push a coin past the opening and then recede to permit the insertion of another coin; said pushing device beingadapted to prevent the egress of a coin through said opening when moving forwardly toward said opening.

11. A cointrap comprising a narrow circular receptacle having a peripheral coin entrance opening and composed of separable sides and a central partition with a coin raceway between said partition andv each side, means for pushing a coin along the raceway past said opening adaptedto be drawn back to permit the insertion of another coin, and means to prevent backward movement of a coin after it has been inserted and moved past said opening while permitting forward 'movement,'said pushing means being adapted to obstruct the raceway and prevent the egress of a coin through said opening when moving forwardly towardV said opening, togetlier with means whereby the several parts of the receptacle are lieldtogether and sealed so that the coin may not be removed until such seal is broken.

12. A coin trap comprising a casing of circular form having a partition therein providing a compartment on each side of said partition, an entrance opening for coin leading into each compartment, a coin pushing device adapted to be slid forward and back beside said opening for `pushing a coin so as to clear the way for the insertion of another coin, and means associatedtherewith Vadapted to prevent backward movement of a coin when advanced by said pushing device, said means being Ireversible and adapted in a reverse position to permit backward movement of the coin out through `saidopening.

13. A ,coin trap comprising a casing of circular foi-m having a partition therein providing a circular raceway at'eacli side of said partition, a coin entrance openingleading into each raceway, a coin pushing device adapted to be slid forward and back ,beside said opening for pushing a coin so as to clear the way for the insertion of another coin; said pushing device having a tail piece which in the forward position thereof obstructs the opening so as to prevent the removal of a coin which has traveled the length of the raceway, and means associated therewith adapted to prevent backward movement of a coin when advanced by said pushing device, said means being reversible and adapted in the reversed position to permit backward movement of the coin out through the entrance opening.

14; A coin container adapted to hold only a predetermined number of coins ofa given denomination, comprising a narrow inclosinserted edgewise, and a narrow coiii raceway leading from said opening and back thereto; said race-way being of a width slightly in excess of the thickness of the Ving the coin along said race-way step by step until the coin first inserted returns to said opening; said means acting upon previously inserted coins through the coin last inserted, and means to prevent egress of the coin first inserted through said opening on its return thereto, together with means for Vsealing the container' to prevent the removal of the coins until the seal is broken.

l 15. A cointrap ,comprising a nai'rowcircular casing having a single opening in its periphery through which the coin may be ining casing having a single narrow opening .in its margin through which the coins are iso serted and removed, a raceway leading around the casing from and back Vto said opening, and means to prevent backward movement of a coin after its insertion past a given point in said raceway, together with means for pushing'the coins along the raceway as they areinserted one at a time, the latter means being adapted to prevent the escape of a coin after traveling around the raceway back to said opening.

16. VA` cointrap comprising a narrow circular casing having a single opening in its periphery through which the coin may be "inserted and removed, a raceway leading around the casing from and back to said opening,'means to prevent backward movement of a coin after its insertion past a given point in said raceway, and means for pushing the coins along the raceway as they are inserted one at a time, the latter means being adapted to prevent the escape of a coin aftertraveling around the raceway back to said opening,together with means for securing the parts of the casing together with a seal that will prevent the removal ofthe coins until the seal is broken to permit the device to be taken apart.

17. A coin receptacle composed of circular side plates having inturned overlapping flanges, a partition dividing the space between said plates into two compartments forming raceways around which a coin may travel flatwise, said raceways being of a 'width slightly greater that thethickness of the coin to be inserted therein, a coin entrance opening in said flanges, means in said raceways to prevent backward movement of a coin after passing beyond a given point in the raceway, and pawl-andratchet devices consisting of substantially star-shaped wheels having concave peripheral portions for seating and carrying the coins around the raceways, and pawls engaging ribs or notches in said wheels to prevent rotation thereof in a backward direction.

18. A coin receptacle composed of circu- .lar side plates having inturned overlapping flanges, a partition dividing the space between said plates into two compartments forming raceways around which a coin may travel iatwise, said raceways being of a width slightly greater than the thickness of the coin to be inserted therein, a coin entrance opening in said ianges, means in said raceways to prevent backward movement of a coin after passing beyond a given point in the raceway,l pawl-and-ratchet devices consisting of substantially star-shaped wheels having concave peripheral portions for seating and carrying the coins around the raceways and pawls engaging ribs or notches in said wheels to prevent rotation thereof in a backward direction, vtogether with sliding dogs adapted to push the coins along the raceways as they are inserted and to prevent the escape of a coin through the entrance opening after it has traveled around the raceway.V

19. A coin container adapted to hold only a predetermined number of coins of a given said race-way being of a width slightly in excess of the thickness of the coin and the outer wall thereof having spaced openings therein through which the coins are exposed to view, means for pushing the coin along said race-way step by step until the coin first inserted returns to said opening; said means acting upon previously inserted coins through the coin last inserted, and means to prevent backward movement of a coin when forced past said opening, together with means to prevent egress of the coin through said opening on its return thereto. y

20. A coin trap comprising a narrow casing having a coin entrance opening in its margin and a coin raceway leading therefrom around the casing and back thereto of a width slightly in excess of the thickness of the coin, means to prevent backward move* ment of a coin when moved past a given point in said raceway, means whereby further movement of av coin beyond said given point is prevented independently of another coin, the latter means being adapted to be actuated by another coin inserted in said opening for releasing the coin first inserted and permitting continued forward movement thereof, and means for sealing the trap so that the coins cannot be removed until said seal is broken.

21. A coin container adapted to hold only a predetermined number of coins of a given denomination, comprising a narrow inclosing casing having a single opening in its margin through which the coins are inserted edgewise; the interior of the casing being divided into two compartments each forming a narrow coin race-way leading from said opening and back thereto; said raceway being of a width slightly in excess of the thickness of the coin and the outer wall thereof having spaced openings therein through which the coins are exposed to view, and means in each of said race-ways for pushing the several coins along the raceway until the coin irst inserted returns thereto; said means acting on previously inserted coins through the coin last inserted.

22. A coin trap consisting of a narrow casing having a single entrance opening adapted to permit'ingress and egress of a coin, a raceway leading from said opening around the casing and back thereto of a width slightly in excess of the thickness of a coin adapted to be inserted therein, and

means in said raceway adapted to prevent backward movement of the coin, said means being reversible to permit backward movement when desired.

23. A coin container adapted to hold only a predetermined number of coins of a given denomination, comprising a narrow inclosing casing having a single opening in its margin through which the coins are inserted edgewise, a partition dividing the interior of the casing into two compartments so as to provide a narrow coin race-Way on each side thereof leading from said opening and back thereto; each of said race-ways being of a width slightly in excess of the thickness of the coin and the outer wall thereof having spaced openings therein through which the coins are exposed to View, means in each of said race-ways for pushing the several coins along the same until the coin irst inserted returns to said opening7 and destructible means for sealing the container to prevent the removal of the coins until the seal is broken.

l In testimony whereof I aiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE R. PERRY. Witnesses:

J. A. SoBo'rKA, H. H. JENNINGS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

